Community Group
Community Group are a British political party in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, founded in 2001.[1] The Community Group has four councillors serving on Doncaster Metropolitan Borough council.[2]
The party was founded in the wake of a political scandal dubbed "Donnygate" that saw 21 Doncaster councillors convicted of expenses fraud from 1997.[3] The party had 6 borough councillors in Doncaster in 2001.[4] Party leader Martin Williams contested Doncaster North at the 2005 general election against Ed Miliband, receiving 2,365 votes (7.5%, in fourth place).[5] Jessie Credland stood for election as Mayor of Doncaster for the party in 2005, coming fourth with 10,263 votes (9.4%).[6] Garth Oxby defected to become an independent in May 2005 following a deal made with the Labour group for Community Group councillors to be given positions chairing council committees,[7] a deal repeated the following year.[8] Richard Walker and Jessie Credland also later left to sit as independent members. The party lost John Cooke's seat to Labour in 2007.[9] In 2007, the party also had 10 town councillors.[10]
English Democrats Mayor Peter Davies is associated with the group.[2] The Community Group's own candidate, Stuart Exelby, formerly a Labour councillor and deputy mayor from 2008-9,[11] received 2152 votes.[12] Martin Williams said of his election, "I am happy about this,"[12] but in February 2010 said that "I think the mayoral system is in tatters... It has been tried and failed."[13]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Community Group, The". Register of political parties. Electoral Commission. http://registers.electoralcommission.org.uk/regulatory-issues/regpoliticalparties.cfm?frmGB=1&frmPartyID=231&frmType=partydetail. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ a b Wainwright, Martin (7 June 2009). "English Democrat flies the red and white flag in Doncaster". The Observer. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jun/07/english-democrats-doncaster-union-flag. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ Parker, Simon (29 April 2002). "Leaving the legacy of Donnygate". The Guardian. http://politics.guardian.co.uk/localgovernment/comment/0,,707292,00.html. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ Parker, Simon (21 September 2001). "Shakeup to clean up Doncaster". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2001/sep/21/politics.localgovernment1. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ "Result: Doncaster North". Election 2005 (BBC News). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/195.stm. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ Dunlop, Emma (7 May 2005). "Town's Mayor clings on after contest goes to second count". Yorkshire Post. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Town39s-Mayor-clings-on-after.1020733.jp. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ "Council cabinet `stitch up' claim". Doncaster Free Press. 26 May 2005. http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free-press-news/COUNCIL-CABINET-STITCH-UP39-CLAIM.1036966.jp. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ "Lib dem and Indie councillors furious at being frozen out". Doncaster Free Press. 25 May 2006. http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/free-press-news/LIB-DEM-AND-INDIE-COUNCILLORS.1524695.jp. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ Smith, Anna (5 May 2007). "Local Elections: Small groups hold balance in hung city". Yorkshire Post. http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/election/Local-Elections-Small-groups-hold.2857118.jp. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ "Community Group Statement of Accounts 2007". Electoral Commission. http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/49405/Community-Group-The-Statement-of-Accounts-2007_29163-21634__E__N__S__W__.pdf. Retrieved 8 February 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "PROFILE: Stuart Exelby". Doncaster Free Press. 28 May 2009. http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/15745/PROFILE-Stuart-Exelby.5312633.jp. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ a b Jones, David (4 June 2009). "Peter Davies is Doncaster's new elected mayor". Doncaster Free Press. http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/15745/Peter-Davies-is-Doncaster39s-new.5334454.jp. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
- ^ "Doncaster's mayoral system 'in tatters'". Doncaster Star (South Yorkshire). 4 February 2010. http://www.thestar.co.uk/doncaster/Doncaster39s-mayoral-system-39in-tatters39.6042929.jp. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
[edit] External links
- Community Group on Doncaster Metropolitan Borough council
- Martin William's profile on Thorne and Moorends Town Council.
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